Bella Ramsey has revealed they were diagnosed with autism during the first season of HBO’s The Last of Us, which filmed from June 2021 until July 2022.
The British actor, 21, who identifies as gender fluid and non binary and uses they/them pronouns, said they’d previously spoken about their neurodivergence, but for ‘some reason didn’t want to’ share their official diagnosis before now.
While posing for an edgy British Vogue shoot, Bella, who plays Ellie in the post apocalyptic drama, said: ‘I got diagnosed with autism when I was filming season one of The Last of Us’.
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others.
They told the publication: ‘[The diagnosis was] Freeing, it enables me to walk through the world with more grace towards myself about not being able to do the easy everyday tasks that everyone else seems to be able to do.’
‘The label of being autistic has been so helpful to me because that’s helped me to understand myself, but gender and sexuality-wise, labels do not feel comfy for me in any capacity, because I feel like I’m putting myself into a box. I feel trapped’.
Bella Ramsey, 21, has revealed they were diagnosed with autism during the first season of HBO ‘s The Last of Us, which filmed from June 2021 until July 2022
The actor, who is non binary and uses they/them pronouns, said that while they previously spoke about their neurodivergence, for ‘some reason didn’t want to’ share their official diagnosis (pictured with co-star Pedro Pascal)
Bella came out as non-binary in 2022 and said it’s been tough as they ‘still figure things out’ while in the spotlight and unlike other people don’t have the ‘privilege’ of exploring their identity in private.
‘Part of the job of being an actor is that you’re supposed to have an answer to every question that people ask you. But actually the answer can be: “I don’t know and I’m not ready to talk about that”‘.
Bella continued: ‘If I did want to explore other things, like facets of my gender identity, that would be done publicly’.
‘As much as I would try and keep it private, if someone recognises me on the street, say if I’m presenting differently, [and] takes a photo, then that is just talked about’.
Bella wore a chest binder ’90 per cent’ of the time filming the series which takes place during a global pandemic that has transformed the infected into zombie-like creatures.
Speaking to G2 UK, Bella spoke about how their fluid identity influenced her portrayal of Ellie, feeling that wearing a binder helped them focus on set.
‘Which probably isn’t healthy,’ they said. ‘Like, please bind safely’
Bella also spoke about their gender identity with her co-star Pedro Pascal, whose sister is a trans woman.
While posing for an edgy British Vogue shoot, Bella said: ‘I got diagnosed with autism when I was filming season one of The Last of Us’
!['[The diagnosis was] Freeing, it enables me to walk through the world with more grace towards myself about not being able to do the easy everyday tasks that everyone else seems to'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/03/19/15/96358441-14515629-image-a-130_1742397937587.jpg)
‘[The diagnosis was] Freeing, it enables me to walk through the world with more grace towards myself about not being able to do the easy everyday tasks that everyone else seems to’
Bella came out as non-binary in 2022 and said it’s been tough as they ‘still figure things out’ while in the spotlight (pictured in The Last Of Us)
They said: ‘They weren’t always deep [conversations] they could be funny and humorous, the whole spectrum. We were just very honest and open with each other.’
Bella previously told the New York Times that they don’t not mind what pronouns are used to refer to them.
Saying: ‘This is what bothers me more than pronouns: being called a ‘young woman’ or a ‘powerful young woman’, ‘young lady,’ but I’m just not [that].’
In September appeared to confirm they were in a relationship with My Old A** actress Maisy Stella, 20.
Maisy took to Instagram to share a sweet tribute to Bella in honour of their 21st birthday, with a cosy snap of the pair.
There was also a candid of Bella checking out their phone as they gushed about how ‘beautiful’ the star is.
In September appeared to confirm they were in a relationship with My Old A** actress Maisy Stella, 20
Maisy (pictured) took to Instagram to share a sweet tribute to Bella in honour of their 21st birthday, with a cosy snap of the pair
‘Beautiful beautiful beautiful happy birthday the coolest comfiest most wonderful human imaginable,’ she captioned the post.
See the full feature in the April issue of British Vogue, available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday 25th March
Fans speculated the pair were dating, fulled further by The Last Of Us star’s frequent flirty comments on Stella’s Instagram posts.
In 2023 Bella made rare comments about their sexuality, telling British Vogue that they are ‘not 100 per cent straight.’
‘I’m a little bit wavy, you know? That’s what I like to say.’
On dating they added: ‘I’m 19, so figuring that out’s gonna be a part of my life.
”Relationships are so complex anyway, and if you’re in the public eye, everyone having an opinion about them adds an extra layer of difficulty.’
They also admitted that they were worried people would think they were just trying to be ‘trendy’ before coming out as non-binary.
‘But it’s a very succinct way to describe to people who I am. Now I’m able to vocalise it more; being called ‘they’ is the most truthful thing for me. That’s who I am the most’, they explained.
See the full feature in the April issue of British Vogue, available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday 25th March
